PROGRAMMING POINTERS, LESSON 1

 

 

 

Syntax/correctness issues

 

1-1        Any program which uses the stream object or cout must have the following include statement:

 

             #include <iostream.h>

 

1-2        Most statements in C++ end with a semicolon (;).  Beginning programmers will often omit semicolons as they enter their source code.  If the compiler issues the error message "missing semicolon" for a given line, look at the end of the previous line for the probable location of the missing semicolon.

 

1-3        The last line in function main should be:  return 0;

 

             This will avoid a warning message when compiling your program.

 

 

Formatting suggestions

 

1-4        There exists a clrscr() command which will clear the output screen in Turbo C++ 3.0.  To use this command, add the following code:

 

             #include <constrea.h>

 

             main ()

             {

                  clrscr();

                  ...

 

             This command is not necessary in Metrowerks as the IDE (Integrated Development Editor) begins each program execution with a new output window.  Turbo C++ 4.5 also uses an output window.

 

1-5        The code inside of function main should be indented, for readers of your source code to easily see that the statements inside of function main belong to function main.  I suggest three (3) spaces per indent.

 

 

 

 

 

1-6        Put blank spaces on either side of the output operator (<<).  This makes the statement easier to read.

 

 

             cout  <<  "This is easier to read"  <<  endl;

             cout<<"This is harder to read"<<endl;

 

             The lack of spaces makes it harder to distinguish the section of code.

 

1-7        To freeze the output screen in the DOS/Turbo C++ 3.0 environment, add this statement at the end of your source code:

 

             cin.get ();

 

             This function call will wait for you to hit the return key.

 

 

Software engineering

 

1-8        Each program should include your name and a brief description of the program as documentation statements.

 

1-9        Save your source codes with a file name that describes the program.  For example, the lab in Lesson 1 could be called schedule.cpp.